Any Regrets? Oh, Yeah!

There's a regret that's been gnawing at me for many years.

It was a windy bitter blustery snowy night and I was driving home from work. My wife had called me at work and asked if I could pick up some milk on the way home. I was thinking I'm not going to stop at a grocery store cuz I'm sure plenty of people are going to be looking for last minute items because they predicted this storm to have power outages and significant snow. Instead I would stop at a local convenience store or Deli.

I found a strip mall that had a deli in it that was still open fortunately I parked right in front. I did notice when I got out of the car the snow swirling around the lamp post in the parking lot I couldn't wait to get home to our baby who was about 4 months old. Looking down the street it seemed very dark there weren't many street lights. Got my milk and I was just exiting the store when I saw a car coming into the parking lot and stopped behind the parked cars, the driver side window opened and a hand came out and was waving at me. Over the sound of the Wind I thought I heard a woman's voice. I put my head down and walked to the car where this hand now is frantically waving. When I looked in the window there was an elderly woman in the front seat who was driving the car. My first thought was what the hell you doing out on night like this. She had a very wrinkled face and appeared really old in the darkness. I put my ear closer to the window and she asked me for directions, which I gave her and she repeated them back to me pointing in the direction she had to go. She noticed that I noticed she had a blanket across her legs. She said to me I only have one leg. I was in my early twenties and was at a loss for words. She said thank you and drove off.

When I got home I told my wife what had happened and she said why didn't you take her here until after the storm. It was like a light bulb went off how stupid of me why don't I think of that it would have been the right thing to do. I felt horrible and somehow responsible for that lady I just hope she made it home okay. to this day I got a guilty streak. I can't help wondering if she had a family. Do they know she was out in this storm?

My regret is that I didn't take her home I should have protected her. No excuses I was stupid I could blame the storm or being anxious to get home but the truth is even when I was talking to her I was worried about her but that's as far as it went. I should have at least followed her to make sure she got on the right roads. It's just something that keeps popping up inside me.

Tony Page said:

Do you have past regrets? I'm talking about achievable regrets, not wishes like, I regret I wasn't a movie star.

After thinking about it I have more regrets than I thought.

One of my regrets is my family history. On both sides of my family my grandparent came to America by boat, and were processed on Ellis Island. I would have like to know if my Grandparents had siblings or who my relatives are in Italy. I should have inquired from the elders of the family or my parents about these things.
My Grandmother garden was amazing, she had no insecticide, or fertilizers how did she do it? She dehydrated vegetables on a sheet of tin in the sun, no fancy appliances. I regret not learning from her, I was too young.

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Tony I too wish I'd known a little more about my ancestors, so what I do know I recorded on a little recorder and sent a copy to our oldest granddaughter who is 39.
My grandfather was Scotch Irish and was here for last couple hundred years, my grandmother, his second wife came over from Ireland in the early 1800s.I told grand daughter about their lives. And the lives of great uncles and aunts.

Tony Page said:

Do you have past regrets? I'm talking about achievable regrets, not wishes like, I regret I wasn't a movie star.

After thinking about it I have more regrets than I thought.

One of my regrets is my family history. On both sides of my family my grandparent came to America by boat, and were processed on Ellis Island. I would have like to know if my Grandparents had siblings or who my relatives are in Italy. I should have inquired from the elders of the family or my parents about these things.
My Grandmother garden was amazing, she had no insecticide, or fertilizers how did she do it? She dehydrated vegetables on a sheet of tin in the sun, no fancy appliances. I regret not learning from her, I was too young.

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You should be able to back into Elis Island records and with birth certificates into Italian records.

I regret that I didn't spend more time just rocking my babies. People told me I would spoil them, but that's a load of . Those are times we never get to have again.

Beth Gallagher said:

I regret that I didn't spend more time just rocking my babies. People told me I would spoil them, but that's a load of . Those are times we never get to have again.

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I remember with my first child she be crying when she was a baby I go over pick her up Rock her, hold her close to keep her warm, she'd fall asleep, I quietly bring her over to the crib lay her down gently soon as she hit the crib she started crying again. I'd pick her up and started rocking her again and holding her close I did that till she was 9 years old at least that's what it felt like.

I regret not taking school as seriously as I should have. I'm intelligent enough to have gotten scholarships, but I was more interested in playing in bands and chasing girls.

I also regret not taking advantage of the GI Bill when I got out of the army.

I could have given myself so many more opportunities. Instead, I just skated by, and that's resulted in me working for the last 35 years in a factory.

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy my job, but I could have done so much more with myself.